Vancouver actress who exposed NXIVM cult reacts to leader's prison sentence - CTV News Vancouver

Former NXIVM member Sarah Edmondson says she’s breathing easier after the cult’s leader, Keith Raniere, was sentenced to 120 years in prison Tuesday for sex trafficking, extortion and racketeering.

Edmondson was an actress in Vancouver in 2005 when a filmmaker she respected introduced her to NXIVM, which was presented as a personal and professional development program.

And it wasn’t until the very end that I found out what it actually is,” said Edmondson who worked as a recruiter for the group.

When she went to the FBI in 2017, she wasn’t the first NXIVM member to try to blow the whistle on Raniere.

Edmondson had been branded by the group, and had a scar on her hip that spelled out the initials of Raniere and fellow actress and NXIVM member Allison Mack

“The collateral that I had given, also known as blackmail, was used to pressure me to do it,” said Edmondson

“They didn’t need me to testify at the end which was great,” said Edmondson

“I was always afraid he would find some loophole out of it because he’s good at that,” Edmondson said

Former NXIVM member Sarah Edmondson says she feels a sense of relief after the group's leader, Keith Ranier, was sentenced to 120 years in U.S